And they are off – Team Harsa hits the road

Team Harsa set out from Uckfield this morning on a 120-mile cycling challenge to raise funds for Papworth Hospital.

Team Harsa with their namesake Harsa Parmar before setting out on their fund-raising 120-mile cycle ride from Uckfield to Papworth Hospital.

Shortly after 7am they left the Harlands Estate home of Harsa Parmar – who inspired them to take on the challenge when her life was saved by a double heart and lung transplant – and will be greeted by her at the hospital this evening.

They expect to be on the road for ten hours, eight-and-a-half of them in the saddle.

The leader of Team Harsa, Tony Barber, is pictured with Harsa Parma, her husband Micky, and son Nathan.

From an Uckfield News story on Friday, May 31: They are being led by Tony Barber who is hoping to raise £2,000. They are not far off the target now with £1,902 already promised.

Tony was originally going to take on the challenge on his own, wanting to raise funds for the hospital where good family friend Harsa Parmar was given a new lease of life following a double heart and lung transplant. (Read Harsa’s story here in another Uckfield News story.)

But he was delighted when others got involved, including members of his cycling group.

The team will be accompanied by a support car from Proper Cycling and Coffee, in Hassocks, and the business owner Ross McCracken will be riding with them. Also undertaking the challenge will be Papworth consultant Dr Jas Parmar.

Only a handful of the cyclists have ever broken the 100-mile barrier before. Tony has done 100 miles and raised money for the Stroke Association, another of the team has ridden 200 miles overnight and one has ridden from Lands End to John O’Groats.

Some of them have their own reasons to be grateful to be thankful to Papworth – one rider’s father underwent one of the early heart transplant there, another one’s father-in-law is under their care at the moment.

If you would like to support Team Harsa please visit Tony’s JustGiving page.

They will be leaving the Harlands Estate at 7am, heading down Uckfield High Street and along Church Street towards Piltdown.